My New Home: Happy in Humes Heights

Emily Adams Keplinger
·4 min read
Tyler Shelton and Matthew Hurt love their new home.
Tyler Shelton and Matthew Hurt love their new home.

Tyler Shelton and Matthew Hurt had always promised their dog, CJ, that when they bought their first house she would get a big yard. They made good on that promise last September.

“Beyond getting a good-sized yard, we knew that we were looking for a home that had a lot of character,” said Tyler. “We also hoped to be close to all of the excitement that Midtown had to offer. Finding a house with three bedrooms and two baths was a requirement so we could host friends and family who lived out of town. And, because we enjoy cooking together, we were hoping to have a big kitchen with a lot of counter space.”

The roomy screened-in porch looks out on the home's nearly half-acre yard.
The roomy screened-in porch looks out on the home's nearly half-acre yard.

“We moved to Memphis from Minneapolis, so we were unfamiliar with the various neighborhoods here,” explained Matthew. “To begin our house hunt, we started going to open houses around town. We went to an open house and met Melody Bourell, an agent with Marx-Bensdorf Realtors. She was so fun and spunky. I remember that she offered us chicken gumbo and mimosas. After that we were sold on having her as our agent. She made the home-buying process a lot of fun and helped us find the right home in the right neighborhood for us.”

Tyler added, “With Melody’s help, we looked at seven or eight houses. We actually put an offer on a house that was near Crosstown Concourse, and we were under contract for it, but it fell through. Melody kept us focused and we found this one, which we liked even better. It just feels so much more like us.”

The living room area offers plenty of seating with splashes of color.
The living room area offers plenty of seating with splashes of color.

Tyler and Matthew were first-time homebuyers. They said that they had been wanting to buy a house for a couple of years, but were trying to find the right place to build their careers. Tyler is a flight dispatcher for FedEx and Matthew is an associate of high quality education for the Hyde Family Foundation.

Tyler and Matthew paid $287,000 for their post-war home, c. 1948, in the Humes Heights area, just west of Chickasaw Gardens. It had approximately 1,300 square feet, including their requisite three bedrooms and two bathrooms. It had high-end renovations galore, and was situated on almost half an acre. The updated kitchen had a gas stove, stainless steel appliances and marble countertops. The large primary suite had a full bath addition with a large walk-in closet. And there was a separate laundry room that connected the kitchen to the screened-in porch. At the end of the driveway was a detached one-car garage. Other benefits were that the roof had been replaced in 2017 and the HVAC was new as of 2022.

The kitchen is immaculate. Plenty of storage space and modern appliances help make meal preparation a pleasure.
The kitchen is immaculate. Plenty of storage space and modern appliances help make meal preparation a pleasure.

“We loved the layout of this house,” said Tyler. “The living room had a good flow into the dining room and kitchen so we knew we could easily entertain guests. One of our favorite items that we brought to this house was a 1969 Zenith console that was passed down to us by Matthew’s grandmother. We love how you walk in the front door and it is the centerpiece of the living room. We usually end our evenings with a glass of red wine and playing records.”

The sitting room converts to an additional bedroom with the aid of a pull-out sofa.
The sitting room converts to an additional bedroom with the aid of a pull-out sofa.

“The kitchen had been updated with a gas range and marble countertops,” said Matthew. “We love to cook together so that was a nice touch for us. Our absolute favorite room of the house was the huge screened-in porch. It’s become a second living room for us when the weather is nice. And the porch looked out over a large, fenced-in backyard, so we knew we could keep an eye on CJ when he was outside.”

The guest room is a relaxing space for overnight guests.
The guest room is a relaxing space for overnight guests.

Tyler added, “When we moved in, the sunroom was unfinished. We’ve had some beautiful tile flooring put down. We plan to make that space an office for Matthew. And other than adding a garden in the backyard, there isn’t much that we don’t love about our house or want to change about it.”

As for their neighborhood, Tyler and Matthew say the location is great for them. “We love how it is only a five-minute drive to the bars and restaurants in Overton Square and Cooper-Young,” said Tyler. “And we have the convenience of shopping in East Memphis, too.”

The primary bedroom is spacious and is ensuite with a newly remodeled bathroom.
The primary bedroom is spacious and is ensuite with a newly remodeled bathroom.

.Emily Adams Keplinger is a freelance reporter who produced this feature for the Advertising Department.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: My New Home: Happy in Humes Heights